Modi’s peace offensive or a ruse?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Pakistan has mixed reaction in Pakistan, because it is the same leadership under whose watch Indian cricket board refused to play cricket with Pakistan. As required in state to state relations, Indian PM was accorded a warm welcome, but people were not impressed by the so-called surprise visit. It is said that Modi came to Pakistan to wish Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif a happy birthday, and also to congratulate wedding of his granddaughter. Pakistan’s Foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhry, while briefing media about Indian PM’s visit, said that Mr. Modi telephoned PM Nawaz and expressed his desire to visit Pakistan on his way back from Kabul. He added that Foreign Secretaries of both countries could meet in mid-January in Islamabad.” Resumption of talks would be a welcome move, but next steps would show Modi’s sincerity.
The skeptics argue that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had given a gesture of goodwill by attending oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the result was cancellation of secretary-level talks on flimsy pretext. Pakistanis indeed have the desire for peace but with honor; and do not like to see that Pakistan compromises on its core interests. Knowing Narendra Modi’s past vis-a-vis his association with RSS and Shiv Sena, increase in violations of ceasefire at Line of Control and working boundary, and his aggressive posturing, the chances of success in improving relations are remote. In fact, his brief and sudden visit is reflective of his queer ways and adventurist nature; and in fact he has tried to belittle the importance of Pakistan. He is trying to befool the international community that India is ready to resume talks and resume relations with Pakistan.
It was also an effort to appease pro-Ashraf Ghani lobby in Kabul to get India a role and relevance in Afghan imbroglio. Some analysts are of the opinion that Modi has been posturing because he had to satisfy his constituency i.e. RSS, Shiv Sena and Sangh Privar. Though the US, Russia and European countries’ governments eye the $100 bn allocation by India for enhancing its nuclear arsenal and also to buy conventional weapons, the people and intelligentsia in those countries are critical of India and consider Indian a threat to global peace. Anyhow, Narendra Modi is now trying to improve his image, and also to satisfy his other constituency i.e. Corporate Sector in India, because tension between the two nuclear neighbors hinders economic activity. Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif had exchanged pleasantries on the sidelines of the 21st UN Climate Change Conference in Paris.
Before his visit to Pakistan, Narendra Modi had been to Russia, where India and Russia signed 16 agreements across diverse sectors, including the manufacturing of nuclear reactors, solar energy plants, railways and helicopters. Earlier, at a joint media conference with President Putin, Prime Minister Modi announced the agreements signed between the two nations. “The agreement on manufacture of Kamov 226 helicopter in India is the first project for a major defence platform under Make in India,” he said. President Putin said Russia plans to build at least six new nuclear power units in India over the next 20 years. Russia and India signed agreements worth billions of dollars to build new nuclear power generating units in India and to cooperate in building defense and civil capabilities. The six reactors with 1,200-megawatt capacity each are to be built in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
Those will be in addition to the six Russia is constructing in neighboring Tamil Nadu state. Moscow will set up a production line for the light helicopters, which will supply the Indian military and eventually Russia. Narendra Modi had a stopover in Kabul to inaugurate the Afghan parliament building that was constructed by India at a cost of USD 90 million. The Prime Minister also addressed the two houses. To sum up, India is spending a fortune on nuclear and other arsenal; it continues with anti-Pakistan propaganda and activities in association with Afghan intelligence agency NDS. At the same time, Modi is offering hand of friendship to Pakistan. India and Pakistan had many rounds of talks in the past including the Composite Dialogue; but to no progress could be made on issues like Kashmir, Sir creek, Siachen and building of large reservoirs on Pakistani rivers. If India can showcase its sincerity in resolving those issues, then Modi’s visit could be termed as a welcome move.